Quick question for you Lahey. Whenever we (Michigan) have issues witht the CHL it's always the OHL. Is that because the odds of Michigan landing a prospect from West of Minneapolis is so low we don't have to worry about anyone having their rights owned by a WHL team?

The CHL assigns players to leagues based on regions, which is why most of the college hockey teams from the Midwest end up fighting the OHL. Most of Hockey East and the New England teams go against the QMJHL, and the rare western prospect to come east for college hockey would be going against the WHL.

With Michigan, Red typically locks in recruiting classes years in advance, from hockey camps mostly. That makes our roster primarily local, with a couple big Canadians and the occasional non-Michigander. Most of the prospects from more exotic locations never get to Michigan, because the spots are already filled.

That was a damn near perfect answer. Michigan may end up battling the Q or W sometimes but they're primary competition is the OHL because they recruit the exact same regions. There are 3 OHL teams within 45 minutes of Yost.

Michigan has on occasion recruited guys who have been in the WHL footprint, and current forward Luke Moffatt was (at the time) a hotly contested recruit who stuck with his Michigan commitment. When Mike Comrie briefly dipped his toes in Major Junior to extract a better contract out of Edmonton, he went to the WHL as well.

The cultural footprints of hockey are such that while other regions do have some overlap between the CHL and NCAA, our area is the region that sees the hottest contention for recruits. The cultural orientation of Minnesota is so high school-centric that the really rebellious kids are the ones that go to the USHL and still wind up in college; college is also a more attractive option out east where the QMJHL has traditionally been weaker, less stable, and further away. The WHL has no universities to deal with in the Pacific Northwest, where it has a number of teams and uncontested access to the recruits.

Here in Michigan, the story is different; the OHL actively pursues players in its footprint and there are some strong college programs that compete for the same players. The top end of the OHL plays the highest caliber of hockey in the CHL and the best teams aren't particularly far from home (in my two years in Romulus I could get to Windsor Arena quicker than I could get to Yost).

The result is that the Major Junior is its most attractive here, even apart from the ethical corruption and anti-free speech activities of its teams. There are a number of players who see it as a valid option (see Jim Lahey) and choose that direction from an early age, and others who are mysteriously attracted by it when they are a bit older.

And make no mistake--the hockey there is exciting, the fans at these top-end teams (Kitchener, London, Windsor, etc) are devoted, and the playoffs are great. It is attractive to the hockey player. And it is the great recruiting challenge of the last decade for teams in this area.

Michigan will occasionally recruit guys in other footprints, but the same basic mold is in everyone: highly ranked since age 15 or 16, had some previous interaction with the program, and then got a scholarship offer many years in advance.

With someone like Moffatt, who was not around any colleges, he played for an elite club team in Arizona that attracted the attention of colleges, then went to the USNDT in Ann Arbor. That's what got him on Michigan's radar, which led to him on the team.

Looking at his twitter feed, it appears that Sapurji drinks the OHL koolaid. If he were a cycling fan he would insist that the sport has always been clean.

Slovin reported good information from a source and deserves serious support from Michigan fans; I wouldn't be surprised if his report was a factor in the decision released today.

If you ask me, the reason the Rangers are threatening to sue is because this is definitely true--if it were false, they could just deny and blow it off; however, since they have violated OHL bylaws (along with another half dozen teams on a regular basis) they need to prove themselves innocent and silence anyone who calls them out for their corruption.

First Supurji is a woman, and one of the most respected writers in Junior hockey. Either way Touba upholding his committment is only staving off the inevitable. Unless this kid gets injured or under performs he will be gone next year.

I'm torn on this because I am a fan of both Michigan and the CHL/OHL...I believe there is a lot of sour grapes over kids leaving college committments to pursue careers in the Junior hockey. Having watch both extensively, I understand it, there is no real comparison to the competition level between the two from a developmental standpoint. It is SEC vs MAC when comparing the talent levels. I have heard that for many prospects, it is the NHL drafting team that encourages the de-commitment of their draft picks. A kid with Trouba's talent may not move along as quickly playing against inferior talent. I am not trying to ruffle feathers, only state the obvious. Top end talent should play with other players of similar skill. For other kids, college is the perfect opportunity to grow into their bodies and develop for a couple years in a formidable setting such as CCHA. As a Spitfire fan, I saw Jack Cambell come over as an all world talent and look very average, he may have benefitted working on his craft at Michigan. Either way I wish the kid well, I love Michigan and hate the Rangers lol....I just think their is too much made of the poaching issue, everyone is trying to improve their product on the ice, but recently when OHL teams have bagan to offer comprehensive education matching packages, it os too much for prospects to ignore.....Go Blue!!!

it should be Michigan (2011-2012 team) vs. Kitchener (2011-2012) team at the Joe. Winner gets Trouba. Ready, go.

I know Red's always in fine form, but that might take him back to his even feistier, "I won't ride with losers [proceeds to walk back to the hotel in sub-zero temps)" or 1999 Regiona time outl against Denver form. I'm also fairly certain he'd walk away with Trouba.

...then Kitchener would sue, instead of making noise about it. Their whole angle today has just been to save face, since an actual lawsuit would open up their books (and expose a lot of payoffs, potentially).

Umm, that would be mega-stupid. First, what are the damages? It's not like it would harm the team's reputation (LOL). More importantly, litigation involves discovery and since the truth of the allegations would be in play, the Daily could request copies of all financial deals with the team's players over the years and depose owners and management about all of the team's dealins. Sounds like a pretty stupid move to me although it would prove mighty entertaining for all of us.

Getting the 9th overall pick to turn down a 200k offer from a team that has produced defensive talent in the past is definitely of a big deal. Nevermind that Trouba is going to play a huge role next year.

i truly believe this kid is the real deal and as long as merrill comes back our defense should be good. im a little worried about the goltending jared will be a freshman but it's been done in the past and i trust red to put guys in the right position. im hoping the scoring improves a bit from last year but as long as we average close to 4 goals a gme and only giving up close to 2 we'll make a run again. this year will have been 15 YEARS since our last title i want one so bad this year!! go blue

is a big victory for UM. This guy is going to be a great player and even now is probably one of the top two defenders for UM when he steps on the ice.

I played in the CHL so I have a biased opinion as to which I think is the better route when trying to get to the NHL, but what I know is that both routes have their positives. I won't look down on a youngster for choosing the CHL over the NCAA, but I certainly won't look down on one choosing the NCAA over the CHL either. Each choice has its benefits and it all boils down to the personal goals of the individual.

A.J. Jenks, Jared Knight, Lucas Lessio, Trevor Lewis, Jack Campbell and John Gibson, Connor Carrick. If the NHL isn't pulling them one way (Patch, Cogliano, Comrie, etc.), Those damn Canucks are yanking at them. Feels good to get a 'recruiting victory' so to speak.

On a side note, im very excited to see how the team performs this next season. They aren't the most loaded squad but theres bundles of potential there. Im most interested to see how the goalies do, Rutledge in particular.